Month: December 2016

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – A federal judge in Texas on Saturday ordered a halt to another Obama administration effort to strengthen transgender rights, this time over health rules that social conservatives say could force doctors to violate their religious beliefs. The latest injunction signed by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor comes four months after he

Three people have been killed after two small planes collided in midair near McKinney, Texas. The Federal Aviation Administration says the collision occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. near Aero Country Airport. The private airport is about 35 miles north of downtown Dallas. The FAA says it was told by local fire department officials that three

An assailant believed to have been dressed in a Santa Claus costume opened fire at a crowded nightclub in Istanbul during New Year’s celebrations, killing at least 35 people and wounding 40 others in what the province’s governor described as a terror attack. Gov. Vasip Sahin said the attacker, armed with a long-barreled weapon, killed

About 200 short-legged “wiener dogs” kicked off New Year’s Eve Saturday afternoon strutting their stuff at the annual Key West Dachshund Walk. Thousands of spectators watched the pooch parade where many of the four-legged participants wore costumes or eccentric accessories. A dachshund garbed as a “Star Wars” storm trooper took center stage in an ensemble

In Cd. Juarez, the city is still recovering from being considered the murder capital of the world. but it seems killings have been on the rise. The Juarez government says there’s a good reason the rising violence hasn’t been out in the open. “Most killings are cartel members, not spreading out to the public,” said

BREAKING: UTEP football player Aaron Jones and all-time leading rusher for the program decided to forgo his senior year and declared for the NFL Draft in 2017 instead. “I have decided trust I want to declare for the 2017 (NFL) draft,” said Jones. During a Saturday morning news conference, Jones thanked God for the opportunity

The new year has local gyms seeing dollar signs. In January, EP Fitness added over 800 new members. Management said they expect an even bigger boost in 2017. “I would see an increase of 30 percent of more people coming in only because they want a New Years resolution,” EP Fitness sales representative Cassidy Rios

A Vermont electric utility has confirmed it found on one of its laptops a malware code the U.S. government says is used by Russian hackers. The Burlington Electric Department says U.S. utilities were alerted by the Department of Homeland Security of a malware code used in Grizzly Steppe, the name Homeland Security has applied to

2017 is beginning its march across the globe, arriving already in New Zealand and many Pacific Islands. Sydney, Australia’s celebration features fireworks set to the music of Prince and David Bowie, two of the many entertainers who sided in 2016. China is trying to keep things low-key but Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) says

The Gila National Forest in southern New Mexico is now nearly one square mile bigger. The Trust for Public Land says it has conveyed 605 acres to the U.S. Forest Service through an arrangement paid for with money from the national Land and Water Conservation Fund. The property along the Upper Bear Creek was already

As many El Pasoans down more than their share of holiday treats, those training for a long run are starting to taste-test which types of foods are contributing to a good performance on the course. The Springfoot Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K is in nine weeks. Good Morning El Paso anchor Stephanie Valle is participating

UTEP and New Mexico State met for the second time this season on the hardwood Friday night at the Pan American Center, and the game went about as expected based on the recent performance of the two teams. NMSU left with a 79-70 victory to sweep the season series against UTEP. The Aggies have now

Two families are asking for help locating their sons, who have not been seen since December 19, 2016. Army soldiers Jake Obad Mathis and Melvin Jones were last seen traveling in a 2013 Black Chevrolet Camaro with Texas plants HTV-9983. Neither soldier has spoken with family since, their phones are off, and no activity has

The Alama Drafthouse Friday night was lit up with the glow of dozens of lightsabers as fans gathered to say farewell to their fearless princess. Actress Carrie Fisher, who died Tuesday, was best known for playing the tough-talking Princess Leia who defied Empire generals and helped organize the rebellion. Fisher had been hospitalized since Dec.

February 3, 1959 has been called the “day the music died.” But should 2016 now be called “the year music died?” A CNN article stated, 2016 “might be the deadliest era for pop music legends since 1970-71, when we lost Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Louis Armstrong in a sorrowful span of 11

The Mexican government announced gas prices would be going up at the start of the year as part of the petroleum industry deregulation President Peña Nieto has put in place. Ironically, the deregulation of Mexico’s state-owned petroleum industry has resulted in price increases, which Forbes Mexico estimates will reach as much as 20 percent. As

A couple of systems will cross the region over the next couple of days with lowland rain and mountain rain expected. Breezy to windy conditions will accompany the system on Saturday. Near average temperatures are expected through Thursday with just a slight chance for showers Wednesday. Another strong cold front is expected around Friday.

In a game that lived up to its hype, 18th-ranked Stanford held off North Carolina for a 25-23 victory. Stanford had mutliple opportunities to finish off North Carolina in the fourth, but was unable to convert, leaving the door open for a UNC team that nearly staged a last-minute comeback. UNC opened the scoring on

President Vladimir Putin castigated the United States Friday for bringing sanctions and expelling Russian diplomats amid allegations of Russian meddling in the American presidential election, but said no U.S. diplomats will be ousted in reprisal for Washington’s moves in the wake of hacking attacks. In a burgeoning controversy surrounding complaints from the Obama administration about

The Stanford Cardinal held on to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Sun Bowl. The final score was 25-23 with Stanford holding North Carolina on a 2-point conversion attempt to secure a thrilling victory. Coming up on ABC-7 at 4: ABC-7’s Darren Hunt will have a live report from the Sun Bowl. ABC-7’s

The 83rd edition of the Hyundai Sun Bowl game looks to be another success. Stanford and North Carolina battled at the Sun Bowl Stadium on a cold and cloudy El Paso day. It was a thrilling game with NFL prospect Mitch Trubisky driving North Carolina down the field to get within two points of Stanford.

Central Americans attempting to enter the United States illegally on the nation’s border with Mexico helped drive a 23 percent increase in U.S. Border Patrol arrests during the 2016 fiscal year, according to figures released Friday. Apprehensions surged to 415,816 during the 12-month period ended Sept. 30 from a 44-year-low of 337,117 during the same

President-elect Donald Trump is praising Russian President Vladimir Putin for holding off on retaliation for new sanctions imposed by the Obama administration for its alleged interference in the U.S. election. Trump on Twitter praises Putin’s “Great move on delay.” He adds, “I always knew he was very smart!” Putin on Friday condemned a new round

Stanford and North Carolina, the two schools playing in this year’s Sun Bowl, have something in common: strange nicknames and even stranger mascots. The Stanford Cardinal’s mascot is a pine tree while the North Carolina Tar Heel’s mascot is a ram. Stanford has never really had an official mascot. The “Stanford Tree” is actually the

The 83rd Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl will feature a great matchup between two solid schools in the 18th ranked Stanford Cardinal and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Both teams feature star players, such as UNC Quarterback Mitch Trubisky who is a top NFL prospect for the upcoming NFL Draft (28 touchdowns to 4 interceptions). While

The number of violent deaths this year in Austin is the highest in nearly 20 years. The Austin American-Statesman reports the killing of a man at a home Thursday is being investigated as the 39th this year. That’s the most since 1997 in Texas’ capital city. The number reflects an overall increase in violent crime

One person is in the hospital after being struck by a vehicle in the Lower Valley early Friday morning. The incident happened around 1:30 am near the intersection of Alameda and Old Pueblo Road, which is near the Speaking Rock Entertainment Center. Emergency dispatchers tell ABC-7 the victim was taken to the hospital in serious

We are not anticipating any closures over the weekend but we still have two alternating lane closures to look out for starting Friday morning that will affect anyone who commutes to and from the west side. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Alternate lane closure on I-10 East and West from Anthony to Sunland Park. 9

A San Diego-based consulting and polling company is moving its call center to El Paso as a way to save money. California voted to raise its minimum wage to $15 by 2022, and that’s why Competitive Edge and Research is bringing approximately 100 jobs to El Paso. CEO John Nienstedt tells ABC-7 El Paso offers

A fight between two groups of girls broke out at Sunland Park Mall Tuesday. In a video posted on Facebook by ABC-7 Viewer Destiny Reianne, five girls are seen punching and pulling each other’s hair while security guards try to break up the fight. Within the first couple of seconds, two girls are seen punching